In Vietnam, MEKONG delta is the name normally referred to the multi-cultural and historically rich region in the southern most of Vietnam. The name MEKONG in literary products often amicably provoke a sense of the exotic, authentically tropic hospitality.
Via this interactive, educational experience, Dear TeaHouse and Ariyasa aim to arouse spectators’ all senses, enlighten them with the cultural richness of MEKONG delta region, and encourage them to seek beyond conventional notion in order to discern the essence of beauty in the people and the land of this beloved area.
MEKONG takes inspiration from the beautiful landscape and people of the Mekong Delta region. This unique tea art experience encourages people to “discern hidden beauty” in daily life, urging them to pause, see, and feel the beauty amidst the chaos of life in this highly urbanized age.
MEKONG also marks the first official collaboration between Ecolotus and Dear TeaHouse, Vietnam’s 1st concept teahouse. A major part of the immersive installation-art experience of MEKONG is crafted via the innovative use of Ecolotus’s variety of products, including dried lotus flowers and leaves.
Dear TeaHouse - Refuge for Urban Souls
58/4 Truong Dinh, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
www.dearteahouse.com
Breathe sweet smell of night lotus
Feel the awe of larger-than-life atmosphere crafted via arts and design
MAJESTIC MEKONG
The unique installation art produced exclusively for Dear TeaHouse taking inspiration from the image of “lotus pond”, designed and handcrafted from a total of more than 250 lotus-related products from 8 categories from Ecolotus by local artisans under the direct supervision of artisan Thien Nguyen of Saigon-based Dem Trang Studio.
See unique art pieces drawn inspiration from Lotus pond
Flower Arrangement "No.09", inspired by The River of Nine Dragons
Savour a selection of the highest quality lotus new tea collection
Lotus flower tea for Ecolotus
Lotus leaf tea for Ecolotus
Lotus Flower from Dong Thap Muoi desiccated by freeze-drying technology, perfectly retains the sweet taste of pure lotus flavor. The scent of soft and calm sediment of the Mekong Delta will push the boat to take you to
a land of richness and warmth of love.
Tea Tray design is inspired from the surface of lotus pond
Sunset is also known as milk oolong for its milky fragrance and taste. Expect heavy body and tastes that are floral with a slight peachy sweetness. The mouthfeel is very substantial and creamy, reminding you of the sunset in 2004 Gardien de buffles directed by Nguyen Vo Nghiem Minh.
Darling desiccated by freeze-drying technology, good for health, has a gentle aroma and mild sweetness like that of a Southest Girl in 1996 “Nguoi Dep Tay Do" directed by Le Cung Bac.
Motherland is a minty and floral blend of herbs formulated to help your body resist stress, bringing you to the Southern motherland, the context in which the protagonist An looks for his father in 1997 Song Of The South movie.
Amour, complex with a mellow flavour and subtle touch of rose, this Pu-erh tea has been ripened to enhance earthy flavours and aromas, as the beauty of love in The Lover (French: L'Amant), a 1992 erotic drama film directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud.
Eternity, Japanese green tea with roasted rice grains, gives sweet and nutty caramel. The mild flavor of Genmaicha and its low caffeine content remind you the scene of the picturesque Mekong river in 2010 The Floating Lives movie, written by Nguyen Ngoc Tu and directed by Nguyen Phan Quang Binh.
“We are very happy to collaborate with Dear TeaHouse via this unique experience, which celebrates the beauty of the Mekong Delta region. Sharing this spirit, our team at Ecolotus, which started in Dong Thap, is also partnering with several local farmers via the experimental “fair trade” model that can improve and stabilize their earnings,” Quynh Nguyen, Chief Customer Officer of Ecolotus said. “With ‘MEKONG’, we also hope that our products have a chance to reach a wider audience of young Vietnamese who may find our lotus-related products a new and contemporary way to elegantly express their love for Vietnamese heritage in today’s mass-consumer age.”
“By taking inspiration from the image of a sunset down in the Mekong river, we seek to construct an immersive tea-art experience where people can experience the feeling of being Alice in Wonderland by drinking tea amid a virtual lotus pond the moment they step through the door,“ Danh Le, co-founder of Dear TeaHouse said. “Being born in the Mekong Delta region, my co-founders and I want to host this unique immersive experience as a special way to pay tribute to our motherland, which nourishes and sustains us all from birth till today. More than that, we and our partners at Ariyasa want to raise public awareness of how the beauty of the Mekong is being silently and gradually destroyed due to ‘low rainfall, overexploitation of tributaries, and especially hydroelectric dams built in the upper reach blocking water from flowing into reservoirs’.”
Partnership with Ecolotus (www.ecolotus.vn)
Concept: Phu Nguyen (Ariyasa www.ariyasa.com)
Art installation: Thien Nguyen
Flower Arrangement: Phat Tran
Tray Design: Tap Decor
Graphic Design: Danh Le (D4NH www.d4nh.com)
Photograph: Marc Tran (Maki Studio www.maki.vn)
Architecture & Furniture: Yen Nguyen (Seven Studio)
